1 - Disowned

"I will never forgive you..."

Said a handsome young man.

His cold, threatening voice, along with his dagger-like, glaring black eyes, gave me shivers.

Chills ran down my spine.

There are a few people in the area, watching the same scene as I am...

I can hear murmurs everywhere. I don't even know what is happening.

I don't know who this young man is.

So I don't understand...

"...?"

Why is he looking at me with such hatred?

"What?"

I asked him in confusion.

"..."

But I didn't get a reply. He just kept glaring at me like an idiot.

Then after a few moments...

"You just wait... I'll make you regret it in our next sparring session."

The young man in front of me declared that with a tone that made it sound like he was ready to beat me up right then and there.

'???'

His words only made me more confused than I already was.

Sparring session? Make me regret it? Me?

'What the fuck did I do?'

I seriously had no idea.

As a matter of fact, I don't even know why I'm here at this moment.

So just to make the glaring young man in front of me leave...

"Sure, whatever."

I just said that and shrugged my shoulders.

The whispering around intensified.

The young man clicked his tongue in anger...

And after that, he left.

"..."

I stared at his back for a few seconds.

Then I turned my back at him and went the other way, Ignoring all the peering eyes on me...

And as I walked away from the scene, unspoken questions lingered in my head.

'Where am I?'

I don't know where I am.

'How did I get here?'

Nor do I know how I got here.

It looks like I'm in a large facility, with an interior resembling that of an old mansion.

The people around are wearing similar outfits, so it must be a uniform. And I don't know how or why, but I'm also wearing the same thing as them.

Anyway...

'What the fuck was that just now?'

I literally have no idea what just happened there.

I'm still embarrassed and confused.

'I swear these weirdos are everywhere.'

I thought as I frown from annoyance and embarrassment.

*****

...

After walking for a while and getting out of the facility...

I searched for a place to sit on.

I found a bench not far away. There aren't a lot of people around.

So I decided to settle there for now...

I sat down.

"Haaaa..."

And let out a heavy sigh...

Now... It's time to arrange my thoughts.

'First, I need to recall what happened before I got here.'

That's what I decided, so thinking back...

"I was just playing a game called 'Brave Hearts' like usual. I had a few beers... or maybe a lot..."

"Anyway, I started feeling dizzy and ended up slamming my head into the monitor pretty hard..."

And because of that, I blacked out.

And the next thing I knew...

"I was standing in front of that angry young man, who's glaring at me like an idiot."

"...?"

Even after recalling what happened beforehand, I'm still confused.

There's still no explanation why I'm here and how I got here.

"What the hell?"

I grumbled.

"Hmm?"

But then, I remember a dream after passing out.

It's nothing unusual.

Just the whole-ass intro of Brave Hearts when you're starting a new save file.

And after that dream...

"Yeah..."

I just opened my eyes and that young man is already in front of me...

'Now that I think about it, he looks kinda familiar too...'

I thought.

But before I could even think of where I know him or finish arranging my thoughts...

"Hmm?"

Tap- tap- tap-

I saw 3 formally dressed men approaching me, they look like butlers I see in historical manwhas.

On the left chest area of their black jackets, I could see a griffin crest embroidered in golden thread.

And not too long, they reached where I am...

As I was sitting down, they stood in front of me and looked down on me.

The man in the middle took out a rolled paper and opened it up.

Then he read its content out loud...

"Raye Alvah, second son of the Duke Gorgon Alvah..."

Loud enough that the few people around us looked in our direction.

Also, my name is not Raye Alvah. I don't know why they're looking at me like that.

"For bringing multiple shame on the family name, and smearing its reputation..."

'Hmm? What family?'

I think they're mistaking me for someone else.

But nevertheless, the guy in the middle continued...

"You are hereby being disowned by the family in the order of the patriarch, Duke Gorgon Alvah!"

'Huh?'

That name sounds similar.

"At this very moment, you are removed from the family registry and shall no longer be considered a member of the Alvah Family."

Finally, after saying that, the man in the middle stopped talking and handed me the paper.

Then with contempt in his eyes.

"These are the last considerations given to you by the patriarch, be grateful."

He said those words as the two men with him handed me a bag each.

"Then, we'll take our leave."

Then after that, they just left...

Leaving me no say to the matter.

"Did you hear that?"

"Wow, this'll be shocking news..."

"I should tell this to everyone as soon as possible."

Whispers around me started circulating.

All eyes are looking at me.

Feeling their gazes made me uncomfortable.

So I stood up, and quickly left the area.

Tap- tap- tap-

I don't know where I'm going...

Tap- tap- tap-

I just want to be alone.

I need time to think!

My encounter with those men...

It gave me an idea about my situation right now.

'It's very unlikely... I think it's impossible…'

But there's a chance...

That I'm inside the game, Brave Hearts!

And the worst thing of all is...

"I'm the ruffian son of Duke Gorgon Alvah..."

"A third-rate villain who just became a punching bag for the protagonist!"